US naval operations chief can help keep ties on even keel

Worldwide military-to-military ties are usually a useful barometer for gauging the degree of strategic mutual trust between countries. When bilateral ties plummet, mutual trust between the two militaries will suffer. Hence, the ongoing visit of US Admiral John Richardson, chief of Naval Operations, is naturally being perceived not only as a move taken by the two militaries to maintain and lubricate their channels of communication and dialogue, but also a sign the two countries want to keep a tight rein on their differences.

Since the US side unilaterally initiated trade frictions with China last year, bilateral ties between the two big countries have rapidly worsened. At the same time, due to Washington's increasing perception of China as a strategic rival, tensions between the two militaries have also spiked.

After US President Donald Trump took office, the US Navy has conducted several so-called freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea in an attempt to challenge China's maritime territorial sovereignty and interests.